Feb. 22: Thompson calls Favre after getting word that Favre was upset Thompson hadn't called him.
Feb. 29: The begining of free agency, the Packers' original target date for Favre's decision. "He told me that day, he said, 'Hey, if I needed to make a decision today, I would retire,' " McCarthy said. "I said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. It's not that important. Ted and I have talked about it over and over again as far as, you're the priority and we didn't need to stick to that date. So you need more time? Sure. How much time do you need? He said, 'I'll tell you what. [Wife] Deanna and I are going to sit down this weekend, why don't you call me Monday?' "
March 3: McCarthy travels to Austin, Texas, for his daughter's high school basketball banquet. At this point, McCarthy isn't worried.
"We thought for sure he was going to come back," he said. "I thought he was working, just going through the process, and he needed more time."
But Favre surprises McCarthy by calling and saying he "cannot commit 100 percent" to football and is going to retire.
March 4: Packers announce Favre's retirement.
March 6: Favre's tearful news conference.
Week of March 24: During the coaching staff's spring break, offensive line coach James Campen, whose in-laws live in New Orleans, visits Favre in Mississippi on March 26. On the 27th, Campen tells McCarthy Favre is having second thoughts and McCarthy should call him. McCarthy and Thompson secure a private jet from a Packers board member to visit Favre in person.
March 29: Favre calls McCarthy, saying: Thanks, but no thanks.
McCarthy talks to Favre again April 7, April 14 and April 24.
May 6: With the NFL draft out of the way, Thompson visits Favre in Mississippi and has lunch on his back porch.
June 7: During a staff retreat in Kohler, Wis., Campen says he's worried about Favre. McCarthy tells Campen to go to Mississippi -- not as an official team intermediary, but as Favre's friend.
June 16-20: Acting on Campen's advice, McCarthy calls Favre. They play phone tag for a few days but eventually connect. "You and Ted need to have a plan if I do come back," Favre says, according to McCarthy. "Either give me my helmet or give me my release."
McCarthy asks Favre if he was 100 percent committed to a return. "He said, 'No, no, I'm not saying I'm there yet.'"
June 20-early July: Favre and Campen talk regularly, and Favre's agent, Bus Cook, begins contacting the team through Campen. "James was put in a tough spot, and I think he's totally been wrongly illustrated in this," McCarthy said.
July 4: Favre sends a text message to Thompson, who responds by saying he is traveling and asks if they can talk Monday.
July 8: A conference call is scheduled involving Favre, Cook, Thompson, McCarthy and Russ Ball, the team's VP of football administration/player finance, to discuss Favre's request for a release. McCarthy asks Favre if he is 100 percent committed to football -- and for the first time throughout the entire offseason, Favre says yes.
July 9: Packers silence breaks and President and CEO Mark Murphy told the Green Bay Post Gazette:
"I keep going back to his retirement announcement and how sincere and heartfelt that was, "I think it's pretty reasonable that, as an organization, we're going to move on."
July 9: Mike McCarthy is at the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay to announce a $100,000 donation from the Packers... The subject quickly changed to Brett Favre's comeback.
July 10: It is reported by CNBC that the NFL Players Association has informed merchandisers Favre has requested not to have any official licensed products say the word retirement on it. No plaques, T-shirts, Jerseys, collectible cards, etc.
July 11: Favre asks Packers for his release. The Packers release this statement: “The Green Bay Packers are aware of the latest developments regarding Brett Favre ...We wanted him to return and welcomed him back on more than one occasion.
"Brett's press conference and subsequent conversations in the following weeks illustrated his commitment to retirement.
"The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization. At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team ... As always, the Packers will do what's right and in the best interest of the team.”
July 12: GM Ted Thompson said that the Packers will not release Favre; they will welcome him back to the Packers but that he will not be the starter in Green Bay
July 13: More than 100 Packer fans stage a rally at Lambeau Field in support of Brett Favre’s return.
July 14: Brett Favre breaks silence, sits down with Greta Van Susteren’s program "On the Record" on Fox News.
“Them moving on does not bother me. It doesn't. I totally understand that. By me retiring March 3, I knew that could possibly happen. All I was saying is you know I'm thinking about playing again ... If I'm going to play it's going to be 100 percent commitment ... And so if you move on, you tell me one thing, don't come back and tell the public, ... just say it. 'You know, we've moved on and we'll work with Brett on whatever it is.' Don't make up a lot of stuff or give half of the truth."
"... it's hard for me to trust, you know, this guy (Thompson) when I -- either I'm told one thing and everyone else is told another, or he's telling the public one thing and telling me another ... and that's part of the reason for the release."
July 16: Favre’s agent, Bus Cook says that he and Favre have "no definite plans to ask for reinstatement" and it was up to the Packers to decide what to do next. "It's their move," Cook said.
The Packers file a grievance with the NFL -- accusing the Vikings of tampering with Favre. Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was Favre’s quarterback's coach in Green Bay for five seasons and a close friend. The Packers allege Bevell has had inappropriate dialogue with Favre.
July 25: During a telephone conversation with general manager Ted Thompson, quarterback Brett Favre conveyed he is planning to return to the Packers and report to training camp.
July 29: Favre faxes a letter to the NFL offices in New York seeking reinstatement.
August 1st: It is announced that the Packers have basically offered Favre $20-25 million to stay retired.
Thompson says the offer has been on the table for months.
